Epicur — Restaurant in Faro

The establishment offered a delightful selection of drinks and food that left me satisfied. However, the service left something to be desired.

Let's start with the positives. The drinks at this place were excellent. The tapas menu featured a range of delectable options, each bursting with unique flavors and expertly prepared. The quality of the food definitely exceeded my expectations.

Unfortunately, the service did not match the caliber of the food and drinks. Upon entering, I was greeted by a waiter who seemed uninterested and a bit rude. His lack of enthusiasm was noticeable and affected the overall ambiance of the place. As it turned out, he had a hangover, which explained his behavior but did not excuse it entirely.

To my surprise, as the evening progressed, the same waiter began to warm up and become more attentive. Perhaps it was the combination of time passing and the realization that his initial demeanor was off-putting.

When I paid my bill and prepared to leave, the waiter called me boring. He also made some remarks about me staying and waiting him after his shift. This was completely uncalled for and unprofessional. It left me feeling disrespected and undermined the otherwise pleasant experience I had with the food and drinks.

It is important for establishments to ensure their staff members are professional and attentive at all times. While I understand that everyone has off days, it is crucial to maintain a level of respect and courtesy towards customers. In this case, the waiter's behavior was disappointing and detracted from an otherwise enjoyable visit.

It's worth noting that the issue of gender bias in service expectations is concerning. All customers, regardless of their gender, should be treated with...

Please read this whole thing cause there is a major caveat. Let’s start with this: every bite was perfection. The kitchen here clearly understands flavor, texture, and balance at a level most restaurants only dream of. Each plate that arrived was a small masterpiece — beautifully composed, technically flawless, and bursting with intention. The wine service was equally impeccable; the sommelier’s pairings were on point, each glass elevating the dish it accompanied with confidence and precision.

And yet… we left hungry. Not “European portion” hungry — actually hungry. As in, “wandering the streets in search of something else to eat” hungry. When regulars start showing up with their own pizza (this actually happened) to supplement the experience, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow.

For an astonishing €158 for two, one expects at least to finish the evening satisfied. Here, you leave with a palate dazzled but a stomach unfulfilled — a culinary paradox that borders on absurd.

So yes, the food was art. But art doesn’t fill you up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ — Four stars for brilliance on the plate, minus one for forgetting that dinner should...

I wrote my original review (5 stars) after trying some wines. I was going to go somewhere else for dinner but ended up staying and trying a couple of things of the menu. I was almost brought to tears twice. I’ve travelled extensively and eating some incredible meals, but what I ate tonight just took the crown for best food I’ve ever tasted. First, the wine - I asked for something very obscure. Old mate fished out some thing from the back of the fridge and it was bang on! Then I started eating. I think I died and was reincarnated, ate the Pani Puri, became an angel and hung out with the angel crew until my wine was done, ate the pork belly tacos (don’t let that description lead you to thinking the flavours were that simple) and turned super sayan. Managing my culinary comedown I decided to hit the menu one more time for the boys back home and landed on fresh tune, kimchi and sesame nori, paired with the crispest local ‘green’ wine. Friends and family, thou art deceased. Tyre star or two for this place. You wouldn’t bother going to Faro if you didn’t come...